Autumn inspiration: nature

I love the colours that Autumn brings, and if I was planning a wedding this season I would take inspiration from nature's burnt oranges, rich reds and deep browns. Leaves, conkers and fireworks could also be incorporated! Here are a few inspiration boards from Snippet & Ink, to show how this season's colours can warm your special day.

Dinner Beneath the Trees

Peach and Flame


Autumn on the Beach

More Autumn inspiration boards at:

Brenda's Wedding Blog
Bliss Event Group
Style Me Pretty
Dainty in Vintage

November sparkles

Remember, remember the 5th of November...  And I do because it's the Anniversary of our first date four years ago! Fireworks and sparklers create such a romantic atmosphere and would be perfect for a wedding this time of year.

Autumn inspiration: Halloween

On my way to a Halloween Party last night I saw a couple of Rolls Royce cars drive past; it was a bridal party on their way to their ceremony. Firstly, I thought how lucky they were to have such a clear blue sky in Autumn...then I wondered what theme a wedding could have on the same day as Halloween?

I love the use of pumpkins in this Snippet & Ink inspiration board - especially the ingenious ice bucket!

Pumpkins and Wheat

Save the Date: Inspiration

I like the idea of Save the Date cards (or emails) for giving potential guests plenty of notice about your wedding. Choosing the design also kick-starts ideas for your wedding stationary as they can be a teaser for the tone and theme of your wedding. Here are some of the designs that have inspired the design for my own DIY Save the Date cards.

I discovered Made By Michelle Brusegaard's pretty flower designs on my favourite online shop Etsy.com.

Letterpress gurus Hello!Lucky now have a UK online shop full of inspiring wedding stationary.

    

    

    

On a more local note...Bristol stationery maker mhcreate offers personalised lithographic and digital printing.

So Sublime, in North Somerset, make pretty bespoke Save the Date cards (and stickers too!)

Setting the date

We knew we wanted to have a summer wedding, but our date was mostly determined by the availability of our chosen venue and the varying prices of the seasons. June, July, August tend to be more pricy, which is why Spring and Autumn weddings are increasingly popular. This September I went to a beautifully sunny wedding that it could have been mid summer!

We found trying to secure both the venue and the church for the same date was a juggling act, but it's all worked out fine. I can see the advantage of having the ceremony and reception at the same place if you have the option!

It can be hard choosing somewhere so far in advance (for us it was 17 months), but once you've put a deposit down you have your wedding date! Then it's time to start planning and booking everything else!

Some useful wedding venue sites:

On the weddings site for South West Tourism you can search by type of wedding, amount of guests and as well as by area.

A National site with many search results weddingvenues.com has very detailed descriptions, lots of photos, and a contact form to request a brochure for each venue.

An extensive list of wedding venues with useful descriptions can be found at westcountryweddingguide.co.uk.

Bloomin' lovely!

Over the summer I was inspired by the beautiful hydrangeas in various gardens in the South West. They are just perfect for decorating large spaces at your ceremony and reception or to create bold table centrepieces.


Hydrangeas are available for summer weddings in a variety of colours. You can buy small hydrangea plants in pots from nurseries, or by the stem from florists.

Watch my short video of the hydrangeas on campus at Exeter University...

Bloomin' lovely!

Ethical engagement rings

Diamonds are a girl's best friend...but what if she likes to shop ethically? If you're choosing a diamond engagement ring you may want to consider where the diamond has come from.

For new rings it’s best to get a guarantee from a jeweller that their diamonds are conflict-free diamonds. For more information on ethical diamonds here's a useful article: 'How to steer clear of blood diamonds'.

Another option is choose an antique ring which allows you to be eco-friendly by re-using resources. Antique rings also offer you a wider range of traditional designs not often used in modern rings.


My fiancé and I chose an Edwardian engagement ring together from a local antique jeweller because we like how pre-loved diamonds are ethical, plus I love the style of vintage cluster settings.

We really enjoyed the experience of finding my ring, especially as we were looking for a ruby/diamond ring and one had just arrived, in my size...it was meant to be! It was two weeks before Christmas and we were warmed not only by mince pies and mulled wine, but their caring service too. If you're in Devon I recommend the reputable Mortimers Jewellers, a family run business in Exeter, for a high quality range of antique rings.


Mortimers rings are available in both original and new settings in platinum, 18ct white and yellow gold. They have a large stock of ladies and gents wedding rings in platinum, 22, 18 and 9 ct gold, plain or engraved styles; and also provide wedding rings handmade to order.


To find an antique ring try your local antique jewellers or search for an online shop selling antique jewellery.